Crime

Bethel Police Chief Andre Achee has retired, effective Wednesday, June 14. Achee had worked in the Bethel Police Department for the past 23 years. City Manager Pete Williams confirms that Chief Achee notified the City of his retirement by e-mail. Williams says that he’s coordinated with BPD sergeants to oversee policing operations and that they are currently seeking a replacement for Achee. Williams also says that as City Manager, he will be supervising, checking in regularly, and reviewing all police reports.

A Bethel woman was taken to the emergency room and faces charges after rolling her vehicle while apparently attempting to elude a police traffic stop.

According to police, the SUV driven by Joellen Ashepak rolled three times at the corner of Seventh Avenue and Main Street on Wednesday at 9:10 p.m. The 28-year-old was traveling at an estimated 55 miles per hour when she rolled the car. Police say that alcohol may have been a factor.

The Bethel Police and Fire Departments responded to a reported stabbing on the night of June 2, with alcohol involved. The suspect, identified by police as W.G. Anaruk III, age 19, fled the scene of the crime - a home on the 200 block of Blackberry Street. At last report, the suspect was still at large with a warrant out for his arrest on two charges of assault. Police did not identify the victim, but said that he was a male who was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

On Sunday, some Bethel-area GCI customers may have experienced service issues due to a break-in at one of the company's facilities.

“After a break-in at our Denali Tower building earlier today, and damage to some of our equipment, GCI teams have restored all of the interrupted services. No employees were hurt in this incident," a statement released by GCI on Sunday afternoon said.

GCI said that Anchorage Police apprehended the suspect, but they could not yet provide further details on the investigation.

Two State health care boards and local health and public safety officials discussed the general conditions that have been facing Bethel's behavioral health institutions. The discussion was part of an ongoing three-day meeting for the two state health boards, which wrapped up on Thursday.

A Holy Cross man accused of assaulting a Tribal Police Officer on Friday was off his medication, according to State Troopers who took him into custody. Dino Peters, 22, was recently released from the Alaska Psychiatric Institute. He is currently being held at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Correctional Center, where he faces six assault charges, as well as a charge of reckless endangerment of a child. Troopers say Holy Cross Tribal Police Officer Justin Whitley was physically assaulted and chased by Peters with a hatchet.

State Troopers took custody of a Holy Cross man accused of assaulting a Tribal Police Officer on Friday. Dino Peters, 22, was taken to the Yukon-Kuskokwim Correctional Center to face six assault charges, as well as reckless endangerment of a child. Holy Cross Tribal Police say Peters physically assaulted and chased the officer with an ax when they responded to a call at Peters’ residence. Members of the community helped to apprehend him.